Andy Mossack has The Pitons as close neighbours when he stays at the adult only Stonefield Villa Resort in Soufriere, St Lucia.
I’m standing in a dense tropical orchard on the side of a steep hill staring at petroglyphs. Not what you would call typical activity for a sunny afternoon in St. Lucia, but special things deserve special moments. It seems these ancient carvings were made by Carib Indians, the original people of St. Lucia, to signify a place of such fertility and it was deemed a sacred birthing site.
They were found quite by chance when the Brown family purchased this former plantation and begun to develop it first as a family home, and then as a luxury resort. A special gift from the gods you might say for many resort guests who are staying here to get married or enjoying a honeymoon. I can imagine many potential mothers in law rushing to check availability as I speak.
The petroglyph walking trail is one of the diversions you can take here, if enjoying a luxuriously tranquil tropical oasis in one of Stonefield’s seventeen luxury villas with pools becomes far too much to bear. Other distractions worthy of mention might be the regular shuttle to nearby Paradise Beach nestling at the foothills of Petit Piton where sunbeds, a restaurant and bar await. Or perhaps an uphill walking excursion to Stonefield’s Mango Tree restaurant where Chef Roy prepares authentic Caribbean fare, or why not enjoy a nibble or two while sipping a cocktail for a memorable sundowner.
Such is daily life here at Stonefield. Owned and run by the Brown family, it’s a luxury boutique resort set in the south of St. Lucia on 26 acres of lush hillside laden with flora and fauna and the twin Pitons as next-door neighbours. It is a very special place to relax and unwind in. And, in a nice touch, you get given a mobile phone to use on and off the property for local calls for the duration of your stay.
All 17 private villas offer truly jaw-dropping views of the Caribbean or Pitons, slightly changing depending on which villa you choose. Mine is Ginger Lily, a one-bedroom villa technically with just an ocean view, but it’s got a cracking Piton view too. Let’s face it, Petit Piton is, despite the name, so big it would be hard to miss anywhere and the advantage of being on a steep hillside is your view is unobstructed. It could almost be your own private Piton. It’s a lovely spacious terrace lined with a tropical garden including two banana trees and bougainvillea. Hummingbirds busy themselves trying to peck out banana nectar from the banana’s single purple flower. There’s a kidney shaped pool gurgling away, and two comfy sunbeds are set under a shady canopy covered in vines. Up on the wooden veranda a double hammock sways in the breeze and two rocking chairs await passengers.
My spacious villa oozes French colonial charm with varnished wooden floorboards and dominated by a huge four-poster bed smartly draped in elegant netting to deter any brave bugs, while a large ceiling fan spins above. During the day, the two sets of French doors can be opened wide providing a cooling through breeze. There’s also an air con device on the back wall. Off to one side is a fully stocked kitchenette and a filter coffee machine while a door leads off to a two-sink bathroom and large dressing room. Here’s a surprise. What I think is the back door is the portal to my private outdoor rainforest shower, complete with posh toiletries. I do like that.
It’s just a short walk for me up to the Mango Tree restaurant, the place for all meals and drinks. I’m here on the all-inclusive tariff, so all my meals and non-premium drinks are included, and I certainly intend to take full advantage. There’s a big pool up here, surrounded by sunbeds and a few tables are shaded under the two huge mango trees the restaurant is clearly named after. I’m here for lunch and shown to a table on the open pavilion jutting out over the ocean. As I take my seat, I’m presented with a small, colourful, fully loaded, water pistol.
“Thanks, What’s this for?” I ask.
“Our birds, they’re always looking for a free meal”
It seems they’re also used to the sight of my little water pistol, because they fly off way before I get to aim let alone press the trigger.
The food on offer is organic farm to table fare, with most of the fruit and veg coming directly from the estate’s own orchard, carefully tended to by legendary island horticulturist, Pancho. A gentleman who certainly knows his bananas from his breadfruit. Stonefield makes full use of Pancho’s talents from cultivating herbs to providing the fruit in the daily home-made breakfast jams. Chef Roy’s dinners generally include a daily theme and tonight’s production is a menu dedicated to all things chocolate. A promise that sets the chocoholic heart in me fluttering. With such a feast in store, I settle for some light bites from the snack menu and note my new feathered friends look of disdain with my choice. Clearly, they were hoping for something a lot more exotic!
As well as being such a romantic place for a wedding or honeymoon, Stonefield has a strong focus on wellbeing and revitalisation. There’s a well-appointed fitness centre, an indulgent wellness spa with a lengthy list of therapies, and an impressive outdoor yoga studio where you can meditate to your heart’s content in front of Petit Piton.
Soufriere, the lively former capital, is just a ten-minute downhill walk away, but you might not relish the steep uphill return, so don’t forget your hotel mobile so you can call for a lift back if needed! There are other local attractions to discover within a few minutes’ drive away. Cover yourself in sulphur mud at the drive-in volcano with its hot natural springs, go swimming under a waterfall, sample home-made chocolate at Fond Doux’s chocolate heritage tour, lay on some glorious beaches, hike the Pitons, or take the more leisurely but equally stunning Tet Paul nature hike.
You can try all these adventures knowing you’ll be returning to the serenity of the Stonefield Villa Resort’s welcoming embrace.
Those Caribs knew this was a very special place all those years ago, and I’m sure they would be delighted to find it remains that way to this day.
Tell me more about Stonefield Villa Resort, St Lucia
Stonefield Villa Resort, Soufriere, St Lucia
T: +1-758-459-7037 E: reservations@stonefieldresort.com
One-bedroom villa all-inclusive packages are available for $550 (around £422) per couple per night. Other tariffs are available including bed and breakfast and half board. Check the website for more packages and seasonal deals.
